Is the newborn spitting up milk because he eats too much?

Newly born babies have immature gastrointestinal functions, so most babies will spit up milk after feeding, and some babies spit up milk several times a day. Some more serious cases may even have milk overflowing from their nostrils. In fact, it is normal for babies to spit up milk, and it is not a disease. However, as the baby's age increases, this phenomenon of milk overflowing will gradually decrease. So why do newborns always spit up milk?

Why does a newborn baby always spit up milk?

First of all, you need to distinguish whether your child is spitting up or spitting up milk. Vomiting up milk is generally caused by pyloric stenosis of the newborn's stomach. At the same time, the junction between the stomach and esophagus is relatively loose. When the stomach moves strongly, the milk in the stomach refluxes through the esophagus and is spit out from the mouth, causing vomiting. When spitting up, the milk comes out of the mouth forcefully, even in the form of jets. Regurgitation is caused by the underdeveloped sphincter at the end of the esophagus, which results in incomplete closure between the stomach and esophagus. As a result, the milk that enters the stomach flows back into the esophagus and overflows from the mouth.

The amount of spitting up is large, and it often occurs after feeding. Before spitting up, the baby will show painful expressions such as stretching his neck or opening his mouth. The amount of milk spitting up is small, and it usually happens when the baby finishes feeding, and spits out one or two mouthfuls of milk at random. Spitting up is normal in newborns, and most babies spit up several times a day during the first few months of life.

Reasons for baby spitting up: Newborn spitting up is not only caused by changing the holding position after feeding, but the main reason lies in the baby's physiological characteristics. First, let us understand the structure of babies' stomachs and the characteristics of their feeding methods.

The reason for spitting up: the baby's stomach and throat are not yet fully developed

The stomach of a newborn baby, viewed from the front, is lying horizontally and is in an unstable state, while the cardia (the entrance to the stomach) is relatively loose. That is to say, when adults eat, after food enters the stomach, the cardia will contract to prevent food from flowing back into the esophagus; but because the cardia of infants' stomach cannot contract well, the milk that enters the stomach can flow back into the esophagus more easily. In addition, compared with adults, the larynx of newborns is higher, and their way of sucking the nipple is clumsy, which makes it easy for air to be inhaled into the stomach along with the milk when feeding. Therefore, when the child burps or shakes his body, the milk he eats is more likely to be spit out.

Newborn care: what to do if your newborn spits up milk

Change feeding positions. When the mother holds the baby to breastfeed, she should keep the baby's head higher and the body lower, which can alleviate the symptoms of the baby's spitting up. When feeding your baby milk powder, try not to let your baby drink while lying down. It is better to sit or stand.

Change feeding times. When the baby has symptoms of spitting up milk, pay attention to shortening the time of each feeding, and do not feed the baby for a long time, so that the baby can digest and absorb the milk slowly. Gradually, the baby's stomach and intestines will adapt and will not spit up milk.

Vary feeding times. If the baby spits up milk, the frequency of feeding should be reduced appropriately, from once every two hours to once every three hours.

Mother strengthens care. If your baby spits up milk, it may be because he has swallowed air into his stomach. This is usually physiological spitting up milk. The mother should hold the baby upright in time, gently pat the baby's back to make the baby burp, and the baby will stop spitting up milk.

If the baby's spitting up symptoms do not improve after using the above methods, it is likely to be pathological spitting up. The baby's gastrointestinal tract may have lesions. You should see a pediatrician in time and take the right medicine.